University of Missouri Alumni Alliance recognizes outstanding alumni

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The University of Missouri Alliance of Alumni Associations and Extension honored six individuals at its 2010 Outstanding Alumni Service Awards Dinner at the DoubleTree Hotel in Jefferson City March 1. Awardees included Gov. Jay Nixon, Sen. David Pearce, Dr. Cameron Lindsey, Delbert Day, Ph.D., Chris L. Nicastro, Ph.D., and Jim Snider.

Outstanding Alumni Service to the University of Missouri System: Gov. Jay Nixon

Nixon has served the state of Missouri for nearly 25 years. Prior to his 2008 election as Missouri's 55th governor, Nixon served in the Missouri Senate and as attorney general. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law and received his bachelor's degree from MU.

Nixon has been supportive of the University of Missouri System during his time as governor. He remains committed to accessible and affordable higher education and has made strengthening the state's public education system one of his top priorities.

Outstanding Alumni Service to the University of Missouri-Columbia: Sen. David Pearce

First elected to the Missouri Senate in 2008, Pearce serves as chairman of the Senate Education Committee and chairman of the Educated Citizenry 2020 Committee. He is a member of the Senate Committees on Appropriations and Jobs, Economic Development and Local Government. He also serves as vice chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs, Pensions and Urban Affairs Committee.

Pearce has received numerous awards for his advocacy on behalf of higher education, farmers and veterans, including the University of Missouri's Dedication to Graduate Education Award, the Friend of Agriculture Award from the Missouri Farm Bureau and the Legislator of the Year Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Pearce received a bachelor's degree in agricultural journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Outstanding Alumni Service to the University of Missouri-Kansas City: Dr. Cameron Lindsey

Lindsey received her doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and is now an associate professor in UMKC's Division of Pharmacy Practice and Administration. Lindsey exemplifies a commitment to education and has been awarded four Teacher of the Year Awards. She also serves as director of patient assistance at a free clinic and has secured donated medications from drug companies worth more than $2 million.

Lindsey's passion for people is also evident in her community, where she has conducted numerous health screenings and instituted clinical pharmacy services at a local veterans affairs medical center.

Outstanding Alumni Service to Missouri University of Science and Technology: Delbert Day, Ph.D.

Day has served Missouri University of Science and Technology for nearly 50 years in various teaching, research and administrative capacities. He is currently Curators' Professor Emeritus of Ceramic Engineering and senior investigator at the Graduate Center for Materials Research. Day earned a bachelor's degree in ceramic engineering from the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy, now Missouri S&T, and a master's of science degree and doctorate in ceramic technology from Pennsylvania State University.

During his tenure at Missouri S&T, Day published more than 360 papers, edited three books and received 45 patents. He is also the recipient of many honors and awards, including the university's Presidential Award for Research and Creativity and Missouri S&T's Curators' Distinguished Professor Award.

Outstanding Alumni Service to the University of Missouri-St. Louis: Chris L. Nicastro, Ph.D.

Nicastro has served Missouri's public schools for 34 years, most recently as superintendent of the Hazelwood School District in St. Louis County, Missouri's fifth-largest district. She is currently Missouri's fifth commissioner of education and the first woman to hold the position.

Nicastro was named 2009 Superintendent of the Year by the Missouri Association of School Administrators. She received a bachelor's degree from Indiana University, a master's degree from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a doctorate from St. Louis University.

Outstanding Alumni Service to Missouri Extension: Jim Snider

Snider received his bachelor's, master's and law degrees from the University of Missouri- Columbia. After graduation, he worked in a private law practice and as a staff attorney for the Committee on Legislative Research for the Missouri General Assembly. During his career at the university, Snider served first as assistant dean of MU's School of Law, then as assistant to the president for state government relations. He served as assistant vice president for government relations until his retirement in 2009. Snider also served as Extension's liaison in the university's government relations office and as coordinator of the UM Alumni Alliance.

To view an electronic version of the presentation shown at the awards dinner, which includes pictures of the recipients, visit http://umurl.us/aa2010.